I love video games, even though I don't have the time to play them anymore (I think they require a greater investment than board games, but that's up to debating, of course!).
So, I'm really pleased when I see a board game implementation of a video game I love. Case in point:
(image from BGG)
Yet, sometimes, I am also a bit baffled: why adapting this video game at all? What made you think there were mechanics here that could be suited to a board game? Another case in point:
(image from BGG)
(Disclaimer: I don't like Shovel Knight, too hard for me.) In both cases, there doesn't seem to be strong a relationship between the board game and the video game, and that's probably for the best. Because, when a board game tries to emulate too faithfully a video game, and you end up with half a dozen stats to check on the card... it looks terribly fiddly.
(image from the Kickstarter campaign)
So, a question for today! A couple, actually:
which video game you love would you NOT want to see adapted into a board game?
which game would you like to see adapted into the board game medium?
which board game is a good video game adaptation in your opinion?
To me, the answers are:
Hollow Knight. Although it is one of my favorite video game ever, I don't see how the hopelessness of the gameplay, the terrifying wonder of exploring this bizarre world, and the claustrophobic, haunting atmosphere could be rendered in a board game.
Full Metal Furies. This is a fast-paced, isometric shooting game where you play one of the four characters of the main cast and blast your way through hordes of enemies. But wait! To be good in the game, you must learn how to use your special skills, when to use them, and how to complement two characters in an efficient way. It's all about timing, knowing what works well in which situation, etc. This could definitely make for a good card game. Add to that the character progression across the campaign and it might just be great.
Jetpack Joyride. The initial video game is a bit mindless and not too great, but the board game adaptation is fun and fast-paced, with a good tile-laying puzzle you must rush to solve. It's not the best board game ever, but it's fun and it does implement some of the "beats" of the video game by straying away from it in a clever manner.
Games I would like to see adapted:
1. Elder Scrolls: We’re already getting a Skyrim Board game. Daggerfall was my favorite, but that’ll never happen. Besides, everyone and their grandma knows Skyrim. So Skyrim it is.
2. Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magic Obscura. Lots of RPG potential here. Choose a race, a background, stats, abilities, magic/tech affinity then let loose in a large narrative backdrop. Easy!
3. The Forest: They’ve kickstarted Green Hell, so why not this one? The combination of survival/horror really spoke to me. I remember struggling to find food, water, and supplies to build a campsite in a lonely naturalistic paradise. I would scour the woodlands and/or coasts, hunting small animals and fish, only for the roles to reverse when the natives would discover me. Then, they became the hunters, and I the frightened rabbit: powerless, outmanned and outgunned, heedlessly rushing to evade my coming onslaught. Only with time and patience could I hope to defend myself against these monstrosities, unless I lost my resolve to madness first.
4. Can we get another Fallout? Please? Something based on 1 and 2 with an actual skill-based system and perks. The Fallout board game isn’t that bad, with a nice narrative element. But, why is everything on the map trying to kill me, slowly making their way across the game board like mindless post-nuclear drones? This is even more disturbing than playing the aforementioned game.
P.S. I played the opening segment of Pillars of Eternity several times (as I tried different character builds) but never took it any further. I also did the same with Pathfinder: Kingmaker which seemed slightly more interesting. I used to love these types of games in the 90’s, but find it extremely difficult to invest in now. Maybe that will change.